Shopify is an awesome resource if you're looking to build an exclusively eCommerce site. The Shopify experts "get" merchants' needs and cater their fully hosted packages to meeting them. You pay a bit of a premium for added and advanced features, but it's pretty easy to find a plan that fits your expectations within your budget.

Dec 1, 2018

Category Ratings

Best Overall Rating

“Shopify is easily one of the more well-known eCommerce web builder platforms in the hosting industry. Plans are fully hosted, include a free site builder tool, and allow you to boast an unlimited number of products with unlimited file storage as well. Compared to other web hosts, Shopify's not going to offer you the same level of robustness in their technological offerings, but their eCommerce features are on point. Online store building is their bread-and-butter of services, and they're darn good at it.

First of all, the Shopify Theme Store features hundreds of free and premium theme options that are relatively easy for end-users to manipulate; plus, dev-savvy folks can customize their eStores and themes via the Shopify API. You can actually start building your online marketplace today — for free for 14 days — and select your plan later. The Shopify experts are on call and ready to help 24/7.

Once you've built your online store with Shopify, build your business by processing product transactions through a myriad of payment methods. Shopify users can sell via social media, by integrating a BUY NOW button, or using the Shopify POS system. Serious eCommerce folks may opt to purchase the Retail Package add-on as well, which includes a cash register, receipt printer, and barcode scanner.

All in all, Shopify offers everything you need to run an efficient and lucrative online business. The commerce-oriented features are many, and they only advance with each upgrade in service package — from the "Basic" to the "Unlimited" plans. Also, you can buy or transfer your domain name, or park your online store at a free MyShopify.com subdomain. If you're eCommerce-focused, trust Shopify for your online store building.”

Cheap Rating

“The great thing about Shopify is that the feature set centers around eCommerce, a focus of many shared hosting shoppers. Shopify plans are fully hosted, but even their most basic plan is more costly than a majority of the shared hosts we've come across; however, if you're serious about building an online store, Shopify offers a broad range of plan options and feature additions to make that happen within a reasonable budget. Plus, you can host your business at a complimentary MyShopify.com subdomain, or at a new or existing domain of your own.

All plans allow you to showcase an unlimited number of products, and you can sell them via Facebook, a BUY NOW button, or the Shopify POS system. Accept payments via Shopify Stripe and ask for help when you need it, because the Shopify experts are available around the clock to help with anything from Shopify theme development to transaction issues. As you're building your online marketplace, you have hundreds of customizable themes to choose from, and the more technically inclined user can manipulate said themes via the Shopify API.

Shopify is great for online store building. It's a one-stop shop for building and hosting an online marketplace and should be considered as such. If you're looking for a super cheap shared hosting option, there are other providers to consider, but if you want a leading eCommerce platform, Shopify may be your winner.”

Toby Sembower (HostingAdvice.com): This rating is not available yet.
We haven't evaluated Shopify for the "Dedicated" option yet as they do not currently offer this type of hosting service. We're always working to keep our reviews up-to-date so check back later!

Toby Sembower (HostingAdvice.com): This rating is not available yet.
We haven't evaluated Shopify for the "VPS" option yet as they do not currently offer this type of hosting service. We're always working to keep our reviews up-to-date so check back later!

WordPress Rating

“While Shopify isn't your traditional web host, WordPress fans can take advantage of Shopify's eCommerce capabilities. For just nine bucks a month, you can integrate a Shopify BUY NOW button into your existing WordPress blog. The Shopify experts will generate a few lines of code for you and — voila — a stand-alone storefront is made for your site. Plus, you can customize via the Shopify API.

All you have to do is add your unlimited number of products and your Shopify/WordPress online store is officially in business. You benefit from all the easy payment processing solutions, including the Shopify Stripe Payment system, which accepts debit and credit cards. If you decide to upgrade your Shopify plan, the USPS shipping discounts and eCommerce features advance with you; you can even get a free SSL certificate.

While Shopify isn't your traditional WordPress host, it's a fine option for implementing top-notch eCommerce functionality into your existing WordPress website. It's not necessarily the most cost-conscious option, but for those who are serious about online store building, Shopify is certainly worth considering.”

Website Builder Rating

“Shopify is a fully hosted web building platform that specifically serves the eCommerce niche. All plans include a free site builder tool and you can browse the Shopify Theme Store for a design that most closely matches your brand. Themes are fully customizable, i.e., drag and drop elements or manipulate via the Shopify API. Best of all, you can start building your eStore at no cost with Shopify's 14-day free trial.

Host your online store at a new or existing domain name, or take advantage of the free MyShopify.com domain that the company provides. The Shopify experts have made it simple to display and sell an unlimited number of items online, and processing them is a snap. The Shopify Stripe Payments system allows merchants to accept and process credit and debit transactions after customers make a purchase via Facebook, by clicking on a BUY NOW button, or on other social media platforms. Depending on which plan you sign up for, you can get advanced reporting, shipping, and shopping cart features as well. All plans include the option to entice customers with discount codes too!

If you're shopping for a web builder to build an online store, look no further than Shopify. Build your business, build your brand, and boast an unlimited number of products with ease. Online store building is Shopify's specialty, and the team is available to help you any time of day.”

Plans include a website builder with tons of Shopify themes — FREE!

Sell unlimited items via social media, a BUY NOW button, or Shopify POS

Developers can easily build on the platform via the Shopify API

Shopify experts available 24/7 to assist you in building your online store

Features

Sell Via Social or the Shopify POS

It's easy to sell an unlimited number of products with the Shopify Stripe Payment system.

Merchants can sell via Facebook or other social media platforms, by adding a BUY NOW button, or using the Shopify POS system.

You can upgrade your Shopify POS with the Retail Package add-on, making it easy to track your employees' sales with individual PINs. The package includes a free barcode scanner, cash register, and receipt printer, so you can safely accept and maintain all payments.

Shopify Theme Store Makes it Simple

All plans are fully hosted and include a web builder tool, so you can actually build and host a virtual store with Shopify. WordPress users can also integrate Shopify into their existing Wordpress hosted website relatively easily.

The Shopify Theme Store includes hundreds of free and premium Shopify themes for you to use to customize an online store to your liking. Shopify theme development can easily be manipulated via the Shopify API.

Best of all, you can start building your online marketplace at no cost and select a plan later. Shopify offers a FREE 14-day trial, because they're that confident you'll love them.

Advanced eCommerce Features Available

Fraud analysis tools are included with the Shopify Payments system. Orders can be created manually on all plans and merchants can choose to implement discount codes to entice buyers.

The eCommerce deals only get better with each plan upgrade. Premium users can gain access to advanced reporting features, abandoned cart recovery, gift card capabilities, and even a free SSL certificate.

All plans included 24/7 support from the Shopify experts and the USPS shipping label discounts increase as you upgrade to the "Basic," "Pro," and "Unlimited" plans.

Ease of Use

(4.3 / 5.0)

Easy-to-Customize Shopify Themes

Theme Development Via the API

Simple Payment Processing

Shopify makes it about as easy as feasibly possible to get started: beginning with a 14-day free trial. Their website is pretty intuitive and lays out everything you need to know before making the plunge to pick a plan. Overall, you're going to get more robust technology with a web host, rather than an eCommerce web builder, but Shopify's ease of use is pretty great.

Pricing

(4.5 / 5.0)

"Basic" Plan

"Shopify" Plan

"Advanced" Plan

Shopify pricing can get pretty lofty — reaching $299 dollars for the "Unlimited" monthly plan — but their "Basic" and "Shopify" plans offer plenty of features to get your online store built and online relatively painlessly. With each hike in cost comes a package upgrade that includes added eCommerce features, like gift card functionality or advanced tools for reporting, shopping carts, and shipping. Depending on what your online store building needs are, you can certainly find a Shopify package that suites your eCommerce expectations. Don't forget: it's all fully hosted!

Reliability & Support

(4.5 / 5.0)

Shopify services are fully hosted, but you can't expect an eCommerce platform to be as robust as some of the more advanced exclusively hosting companies' technology. They don't offer an uptime guarantee, as you'd expect to find with more traditional web hosts, but they do offer the 24/7 assistance of the friendly Shopify experts.

Shopify Includes

24/7 Expert Support via Phone and Email

Does Not Include

Uptime Guarantee

Other Hosts vs. Shopify

Wondering how Shopify stacks up againt other web hosting services? See our host-vs-host reviews below and compare them side by side.

The Rundown

Toby Sembower

Hosting Expert:

To recap, here's a rundown of what Shopify has to offer

The Shopify experts have built a platform from which anyone can easily launch an online business, and customize it to match their personal brand via free and premium Shopify themes. All packages include fully hosted services, a free site builder, and a boatload of eCommerce features that only increase and advance with each plan upgrade. All in all, if you're looking for an exclusively eCommerce website, Shopify makes it super easy to boast an unlimited number of products and accept payments for them via a multitude of ways (e.g., social media, a flashy BUY NOW button, or the Shopify POS system). If an eStore is what you need, Shopify can help you create it.

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